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What parents need to know

Positive messages

The object of the game is to prepare a wide variety of dishes, sometimes with the help of friends.

Violence & scariness

Not applicable

Language

Not applicable

Consumerism

This game is the latest in a series under the Cooking Mama brand. A "Nestle Toll House Chocolate Chip Cookies" recipe found in the instruction manual calls awareness to the packaged food company's products.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the latest entry in Majesco's popular series of cooking simulators is similar to its predecessors. Players use their Wii remotes to chop, twirl, crack, pour, and pound a variety of foods as they prepare dozens of different dishes. The content is safe for all ages, though the game's complexity makes it an unsuitable option for young children. Be aware that there are occasional references to alcohol, both in terms of cooking ingredients (recipes sometimes call for the addition of wine or liqueur) and tools, such as cocktail shakers and martini glasses.

User reviews

Parents say

Kids say

What's it about?

COOKING MAMA: WORLD KITCHEN, the latest entry in Majesco's popular cooking simulation franchise, mixes all the right ingredients for a great casual gaming experience on the Wii, including a cutesy and slightly humorous aesthetic, all-ages content and appeal, and play that makes clever use of Nintendo's innovative controls. The goal of the game is simply to prepare a variety of dishes by working through all of the required preparation tasks, from chopping vegetables to mixing batter to spreading melting butter across a pan. The physical actions corresponding to these activities have been mapped to the Wii's motion-sensitive remote, allowing players to pretend they are, say, wielding a pick and chipping away at a block of ice, or gently cracking an egg shell against a bowl. New features include several dozen original dishes from various cultures, cooperative play, and spiffed up three-dimensional graphics that allow players to watch their chef avatars in action.

Is it any good?

QUALITY

While the two Cooking Mama games released for the DS were runaway successes, the series' first foray on the Wii, Cooking Mama: Cook Off, was a mixed bag. The core concept was solid, but the graphics were bland, and, worse, the motion-sensitive controls were unreliable. It was a fraction the fun of its handheld counterparts. Thankfully, World Kitchen solves these problems. The cute and stylish new visual design makes the game substantially easier on the eyes and facilitates some pleasant little sight gags, such as when our chef uses a spice shaker improperly and sneezes, giving rise to a puff of flour. And the controls are now much more forgiving; there is no longer a need to worry about holding the remote just so while pouring a liquid into a cup or stirring up batter.

However, it can be difficult to figure out just what it is you're supposed to be doing. There aren't any cooking tutorials, and the onscreen control cues are often vague. Consequently, players will typically fail half of the steps in most recipes the first time they try them. It becomes less of an issue as you slowly work out what to do with the remote, but those early culinary attempts can be frustrating. Still, it's not a fatal flaw. Once you get a grip on all of the preparation activities, Cooking Mama: World Kitchen will likely prove as addictive as the chocolate clairs you create.

Families can talk about...

Families can talk about what it takes to be a good chef. Do you now feel as though you have a greater appreciation for the work that goes into preparing a tasty meal? Does combining various foods to create delicious and visually appealing dishes appeal to you? Have you ever considered becoming a professional chef, or enrolling in a culinary course?

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When you use our links to make a purchase, Common Sense Media earns a small affiliate fee from Amazon or iTunes. As a nonprofit organization, these funds help us continue providing independent, ad-free services for educators, families, and kids while the price you pay remains the same. Thank you for your support.Read more

What parents and kids say

COOKING EXPERT

Cooking Mama is a game where you can cook &amp; learn how to fix a meal you've messed up. I say cooking is my
insperation.My friend &amp; I say Cooking Mama is the perfect for people that love to cook &amp; can't cook.

one of my favorite games

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